The Art of Tiny House Living

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Tiny is a relative term and generally refers to homes of 400 sq feet or less; many of these are much smaller at 98 to 140 sq feet or so. One of the big drivers for people to downsize is the freedom that comes from living smaller. Most of these tiny homes are built on wheels and can be moved from place to place. This portability is handy, but is mostly done to get around pesky building codes that relate to home sizes, room minimums, etc. By being on “wheels” these tiny homes are considered RVs and those code constraints are avoided. Another level of freedom comes from the affordable nature of these homes. A big house normally requires a big mortgage and a 30-year “sentence” of work to pay for it all. In these cases less is more … more freedom and money to pursue other interests.

Visits With Other Tiny Home Builders

A few weeks ago I got to attend an open house that was being offered by a couple who had just completed their own tiny house build in the Denver area. They went with a more typical “house on wheels” approach. One of the biggest differences I noticed when inside their house is how the simple “shape” affected the feel of the space inside. Their house is about 130 sq feet but it is longer and narrower than my cabin. They also have additional interior walls that further break down the perceived space into smaller bits. A few simple modifications to the floor plan can greatly affect the perceived space.

My Tiny House

When I started my tiny house project I decided to go with a fixed concrete foundation. After all, I did have a place to build and this can allow for a wider home. (Most tiny houses on wheels are limited to 8 to 6 feet wide to allow them to be moved without special permits.) In my build area permits are not required for structures less than 200 sq feet if plumbing and electric utilities are not involved. Having spent many nights traveling and camping in yurts and small huts, I learned that the fundamentals of living can be met fairly easily. The basic minimum is a roof over your head, some seating and sleeping space, and some climate control for the chilly nights.

Looking back now, I realize that I lived for many years in places equally small and never felt that I was missing something. Dorm life was endured quite happily in a 12 x 12 foot room with a small bathroom space. Our cabin plan started as a small wooden scale model to get some perspective. At 10 by 20 with an 8 to 10 foot ceiling the space is plenty big for one, comfortable with two…and doable with four. Plus our land is a bit under 42 acres, or roughly 1,825,789 square feet. What we lack inside is more than made up…outside.

Why It Works

The biggest problem for most when transitioning into smaller homes is the sheer quantity of possessions that we tend to accumulate and drag through our lives. Technology of the modern age can help here. Back in my old dorm days I carried about hundreds and hundreds if 12” vinyl records … not only did they take up huge amounts of space, they were god-awful heavy as well. Today that entire collection, and three times more, can be stored and carried in the palm of my hand via my iPod. Similarly, whole bookcases of books can be stored on digital e-readers like a Nook or Kindle. I’m currently paring down 20 years of possessions. It’s not easy to let go, but progress is being made.

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Have lived in a tiny doll house, was difficult, love to collect things, then moved on to a smaller apartment and scaled down but do have a lot of items, my desk has tiny sparkling stone geodes, many small wood boxes with warm grains, many Nature based items--guess I need more space. Living in small spaces has not toned down my love of collecting fascinating things!
Miss my doll house outdoor garden but my balcony is full of herbs, veggies and flowers.

I don't know if I could do a 130 sq ft place but considering I lived comfortably in a 350 sq ft studio in the Bronx, NY. If I got rid of some more things, I could see living in 200 sq ft with no problem.